Toothpick dispenser



Aug. 19, 1947.

J. E KENKEL.

TooTHPIcx DISPENSER Filed July 7. 1945 555i; N J a M 1N VEN TOR.

J57111E.Kenkel Zinesses v Patented Aug. 19, 1947 TOOTHPICK DISPENSER.lohn E. Kenkel, GreatFalls, Mont.

Application `Fuly 7, 1945, Serial No. 603,606

3 Claims'.

This invention relates to a device for dispensing toothpicks and thelike, one at a time, and has especial reference to devices disclosed inPatents Nos. 1,428,439, 1,600,886 and 1,962,018, granted to me.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of adevice of the indicated character which is of simplified constructionand well suited for economic manufacture from low cost materials.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features andadvantages will appear when the following specification is read inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a frontView of a device embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,illustrating the manner in which a toothpick may be grasped to remove itfrom the device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the device showingthe relation of the parts as a toothpick is being removed. 1

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a continuation of theoperation illustrated in Fig. 4.

As shown in the drawing the device of the present invention comprisestwo main corelated sections consisting of a stationary lower or basesection I and a movable upper section II. These sections Ill and Il maybe made entirely of wood or plastic material.

'Ihe lower section I0 is adapted to rest on a suitable horizontalsupporting surface. Accordingly, the section I0 includes a base I2consisting of a rectangular block whose upper and lower' surfaces areflat and parallel to each other. Uprights I3 are secured to the baseblock on opposite sides respectively. Vertical rest members I4 aresecured to the base I2 on the `top surface. These members I4 areextended longitudinally in spaced parallel relation `to each otherbetween the opposite sides of the base. The upper edge portion of eachmember I4 is notched, there being a series of small agitating notches Ialong the rear and V shape notches I6, I7, I8 and I9, respectively,along the remaining portion of the member i4. The notches I6, Il, I8 andI9 provide an arrangement of inclined surfaces as will be understood.These surfaces are varied in length. Some of the surfaces serve asguideways and others serve as abutments for purposes eX- plainedhereinafter.

The upper section I I comprises a box-like structure E53 having a bottom3|, side walls 32, front wall 33, back wall 34 and top wall 35. Thebottom 3l slopes slightly forwardly and downwardly. The front wall 33may include a removable transparent panel, and the top wall 35 also maybe a removable transparent panel with both in sliding engagement withthe side walls of 32. The top wall 35 serves as a cover held in closedposition by suitable means such as the turnable latch 36 on the backwall 345. The bottom 3 I. has elongated openings 3'! therein toaccommodate the members '"ifl, respectively, of the base section. By

reason of the openings 3l there is provided a central member 38 having Vshape notches 39 and i0, top side. These notches provide an arrangementof inclined surfaces. surfaces serve as guideways and the others asabutments. The notched central member 38 operates between the aforesaidmembers I4. Also, by reason of the openings 31 the bottom 3| has sideextensions to which are attached angle pieces fit, thus providingchannels or chutes 41 extending forwardly and downwardly on the front ofthe structure 30 at opposite sides. The inner ends of the channels 4lcommunicate with the interior of the structure 30 and the outer or frontends are open. A baffle 48 on the inside oi the front wall is disposedtransversely so as to restrict the inner ends of the chutes 41 so thatonly one article or toothpick may pass to the chutes.

Th'e upper section Il having the above mentioned features is mounted onthe lower section I0 for rocking movement with respect thereto on ahorizontal axis. Accordingly, suitable pivots 69 carried by the uprightsI3, respectively, extend into the side walls 32.

The box-like structure 30 serves as a magazine for the articles to bedispensed. Toothpicks 50 are shown by Way of example. The latch 36 maybe turned to a position to enable the panel 35 to be removed for theintroduction of a supply of the toothpicks within the magazine.

The upper section Il normally is disposed under the action of gravity ina forwardly and downwardly inclined position, as shown in Fig. 3.Repeated up and down movement of the section II puts one toothpck acrossthe members I4 with the opposite end portions of the toothpick disposedin the notches I8 and adjacent chutes lll, respectively. This particulartoothpick is designated T. It may -be grasped between the iorenger andthumb of one hand and be withdrawn, therebyl causing the section Il torock upwardly, due to the fact that the end por- Sorne of theV tions ofthe toothpick T are caused to perform a wiping action on the pieces 46as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 4 the section II is partly up andin Fig. 5 the section II is all of the way up, enabling the toothpick tobe removed from the open ends of the chutes 41. As the section I I isrocked upwardly to remove a toothpick and is then allowed to rockdownwardly another toothpick is transferred to the pair of notches I8.The repeated up and down rocking movement of the section II causes onetoothpick at a time to be advanced to the notches I8. Each toothpickadvances from the notches IB into and out of the notches 39, I'I, 40,and then into the notches I8 in the order mentioned. The notches 39 and40 are staggered with respect to the notches I1 and I8 for the purposementioned.

The notches I9 are not necessary for the proper operation of the device.The notches I9 are provided to prevent playful children and foolishadults from rocking thesection II without removing a toothpick and solling the notches I8. Should the section II be rocked upwardly withoutremoving the toothpick from the notches I8 it will be lifted into thenotches I9, as indicated by the toothpick designated T in Fig. 4. Thetoothpick T in the notches I9 will prevent the section II from rockingdownwardly due to the fact that the parts 46 will strike the endportions of the toothpick T. By removing the toothpick "I" anothertoothpick will be delivered into the notches I8 for the proper andorderly operation of the device.

It is to be understood the invention is not restricted to the showing inthe drawings, but that details of construcion may be modied andrearranged in accordance with the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toothpick dispenser comprising a stationary base section adapted torest on a suitable horizontal support, an upper magazine section for asupply of toothpicks mounted on the base section for pivotal movement ona horizontal axis, forwardly and downwardly inclined and laterallyspaced cooperative delivery chutes channel shape in cross sectionconnected with the magazine section at opposite sides thereof, saidchutes communicating with the interior of the magazine section in suchmanner that only one toothpick at a time may pass out of the magazinesection with its opposite end portions disposed in said chutes, spacedupright stationary members on the base section extending in a front-toback direction between the chutes, said magazine section having a bottomwith elongated openings therein into which said stationary membersproject so that the bottom is movable with respect thereto in thepivotal movement of the magazine section, the stationary members andsaid bottom having an arrangement of inclined surfaces and abutments toad- Vance said toothpicks step by step one at a time out ofthe magazinesection with the end portions disposed in said chutes as the magazinesection is caused to pivot up and down by rcason of the withdrawal fromthe chutes of the most advanced toothpick by grasping the toothpickbetween its ends.

2. A toothpick dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inclinedsurfaces and abutments of the stationary members are staggered withrespect to thoser of the bottom.

3. A toothpick dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stationarymembers have notches which may receive a toothpick disposed with its endportions in said chutes to prevent the downward pivotal movement of themagazine section until saidl toothpick is removed.

JOHN E. KENKEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Rist Aug.13, 1901

